Would You Give Your Child a Vitamin with Aspartame in It?

Updated on August 28, 2010
K.J. asks from Manassas, VA
17 answers

Would you give your toddler a vitamin with aspartame in it?
My son is 20 months old has feeding issues and he was seen by a feeding and swallowing children's hospital.

They told me to give him 1/2 tab of flinstones vitamins with iron, but it has aspartame in it. What would you do? I know a lot of pregnant woman take it when they can't take regular vitamins so a lot of dr's must recommend it.

thank you!

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone. He can't eat gummy vitamins because of his feeding issues. I think the dr recommended Flinstones because of the fruity flavor. The dietician told me to grind it up and put it in his oatmeal. I have a feeling he won't take it that way anyway.

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J.P.

answers from Boise on

I don't eat anything with aspartame and wouldn't give it to my kids either. There is a reason that they put a warning on items that contain it.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from Washington DC on

I am cutting out aspartame all together. Do some web research on the dangers of aspartame and you will too.

There are gummy vitamins that I have found at Trader Joes that have no aspartame or artificial colors. I believe I saw some similar at Target. There are probably non-gummy forms at Trader Joes, but that's what my kids like so that's what I looked for.

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

I stay away from aspartame no matter what my doc says. I don't like white sugar or corn syrup either for my kids. I use Melaleuca vitamins or natural ones from the health food store. I'm pretty picky with ingredients but it helps my kids to be and stay healthy. Good luck!

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B.R.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Nope...wouldn't and haven't done the aspartame. Go to a health food store (not a GNC) and find a comparable vitamin. Our local store listens to what we say and helps us find exactly what we need.

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G.B.

answers from Tulsa on

NO!

If you look back at all the artificial things we have been exposed to and research how many of them were thought to be safe that actually caused cancer, developmental disabilities, growth defects, etc...it's really not worth the risk when there are vitamins that contain natural ingredients in them.

How many commercials an hour do YOU see where a medication has hurt or killed people and they are getting millions of dollars through law suits. Those medications passed the standards that Aspartame went through too.

I have horrible migraines when I eat anything that has Aspartame in it. My mother and my daughter both get them too. I will only use natural sugar and then just limit the amount I allow in the kids nutrition.

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L.S.

answers from Dallas on

I would say NO. My daughter was on a lot of asparatame and splenda at that age, so I could feel better about her getting to drink koolaid and have sweet treats without the added calories. After 3 urinary tract infections and a VCUG test (under anesthetic kidney reflux test) and the threat of being put on a daily low dose anti-biotic for a YEAR, I started researching. Turns out that artificial sweetners lower your intestinal bacteria by as much as 50%. Not a big deal for adults, but a HUGE problem for kids.

There are other vitamin choices without artificial sweetners. My kids take one that is a fruit punch drink made from whole food sources, not just chemical vitamins made from corn and soy (Food, Inc the documentary changed my life!). Whole broccoli, cabbage, carrot, etc. Natural flavors and colors, nothing artificial. Price is comparable to other quality vitamins. I initially mixed it with 4-6 ounces of apple juice, just to add some sweetness, but found quickly that they loved the drink better without it! It's a berry flavor.

Need info on how to find it, just write me back.
Kuddos to you for asking questions - pat yourself on the back with this one!
L.

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L.D.

answers from Las Vegas on

From what I've read, aspartame is supposed to be really bad for your health. Since your child is so young, a little bit of a not so good thing for an adult, would probably be like a lot of a not so good thing for a kid. That's just my line of thinking though. If you have a Whole Foods or a Trader Joe's in your neck of the woods, I would go there to get your vitamins. They have gummy vitamins that are really yummy without anything like artificial dyes and flavorings in them. It's just a safer bet. Just my own opinion.

Hope this helps.

*** ADDED: I know Whole Foods has childrens vitamins that are fruit flavored that you can grind up as well. Trader Joe's may have this type of kids vitamin also. Just so that you know what all your options are . . .

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

your better off giving him fruit, those fake sugars are known to block the release of dopamine and seratonin, usually to no harmful degree, but some people are just sensitive to it.

M.L.

answers from Houston on

my dr. recommended it as well

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V.P.

answers from New York on

NO!! I've been recently getting information from my mother (who is a health food nut) and alot of what I've read on Aspartame is very disturbing. Health food store!

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N.K.

answers from Madison on

Simply "no".
Ask the doctor/nurse for an alternative with no aspartame in it.

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J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

My boys take Flintstones, have for years, and are just fine.

L.M.

answers from Dover on

I give my daughter Koala Pals Vitamins.

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N.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Flintstones deliver very little if any nutritional value, as they are synthetic. If your child needs a good supplement, I would suggest you look at Melaleuca's vitamins. They have been scientifically proven to have higher absorbability than any other vitamin on the market. You can check out melaleuca.com/oligo for more info. Good luck with your little one!

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D.K.

answers from Washington DC on

I wouldn't if you have an alternative. I always try to avoid aspartame for myself and my kids. My hubby won't give it up (he's addicted to Sweet n Low for his iced tea) so I just concentrate on keeping the kids off of it. I don't even let them chew gum with aspartame. They onle get gums sweetened with Xylitol. Of course, you can't avoid every bad thing in life, just do the best you can. I'm sure there is a more natural source of multivitamins available for your son.

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L.M.

answers from Washington DC on

There are liquid vitamins out there for children. That is actually the most efficient delivery system. Your instinct is right on. NO Aspartame. The air force will not allow their pilots to fly within 48 hrs of having any aspartame!!
Find another Dr.!
L. M

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L.B.

answers from Washington DC on

No I would not! If you google aspartame you will see how bad it is for you. I used to give my son juice plus capsules. What I would do is open the capsules and put them in his juice to drink or yogurt to eat. It worked out well. Juice Plus is just fruits and veggies minus the salt, sugar and water. I wanted to make sure he was getting as much nutrition as possible because he was having some digestive issues. I am happy to say he is 8 years old now and still taking Juice Plus.
Good luck!

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